A Guide on Insulation and Heat Dissipation

The benefits of insulation include saving energy and promoting efficiency, protecting the environment, and reducing sound transmission.

FREMONT, CA: Heat dissipation is an unavoidable but nevertheless negative side effect of a variety of industries, from forging steel to powering electric vehicles. Both heat dissipation and insulation must be considered to ensure maximum safety.

Heat transfer can be affected by a number of factors. To find the right way to address heat dissipation with the right insulation, understanding these factors and outcomes is of utmost necessity.

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Heat transfer is affected by the following factors:

How well a material dissipates heat depends on its thermal conductivity, thickness, and total area.

The thermal conductivity of different materials varies. As good conductors of heat, metals have higher thermal conductivity values. Copper has a k value of 398, gold 315, while aluminum has a k value of 237. The heat transfer rate will also be affected by the application. It is likely that the inside temperature of a furnace or kiln will be upwards of 1000°C, so it is expected a much higher rate of heat transfer without any type of insulation.

Mica, for instance, has a much lower thermal conductivity value than insulating materials. It is estimated that mica has a thermal conductivity of approximately 0.71, which means that heat is transferred through mica at a much slower rate. Elmtherm microporous products have thermal transfer rates of 0.020 W/mK at low temperatures and 0.036 W/mK at higher temperatures.

By adding an insulative layer with a lower thermal conductivity,  the overall rate of heat transfer or loss can be slowed down.

Heat transfer must be slowed for a number of reasons.

Keeping oneself safe: The reduction of heat transfer can be crucial in industrial and even consumer settings, often in order to comply with strict industry regulations. For electric vehicles, reducing the rate of heat transfer is especially important. Lithium-ion batteries power electric vehicles (EVs). Due to their high energy density, these batteries are ideal for powering electric vehicles, but they are prone to thermal runaway. When a battery short circuits or malfunctions, it causes an increase in temperature within the cell, which then spreads to the rest of the pack. In the process, an unstoppable chain reaction occurs, resulting in incredibly high temperatures throughout the pack and, eventually, a fire or explosion. By installing insulation between the battery cells and in the pack housing, heat dissipation can be slowed down, giving the occupants of the vehicle more time to reach safely.

Cost-saving maintenance: A material's thermal properties and even structural integrity are negatively affected by repeated exposure to extremely high temperatures. A system or machinery that is not properly insulated could require more frequent repairs. The result is increased downtime, decreased productivity, and, ultimately, higher costs.

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